Nelson Garners Big 12 Runner Of The Week Honors

IRVING, Texas - Iowa State women's cross country runner Crystal Nelsonn earned the Big 12 Female Runner of the Week, the league office announced today.

Nelson was impressive in her 2013 debut, placing third overall at the 28th annual Roy Griak Invitational in a time of 20:50. The Winchester, Va., native ran with the lead pack for the entirety of the race, including taking the lead near the halfway point. Nelson paced the No. 25 ranked Cyclones to a fifth place team finish, defeating then-higher ranked teams in No. 20 Vanderbilt and No. 21 North Carolina State.

Nelson finished the 6K race behind only Arizona State's Shelby Houlihan and Arizona's Elvin Kibet. Both will likely be All-American Candidates this season.

This marks the sophomore's first career Big 12 Runner of the Week honor.

Iowa State returns to the course Oct. 19 at the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational.